Ponto Go! Is SoCal Spirit With Two-Rider Power: Has the Range Needed To Replace Your Car

Folks, Electra is an off-shoot brand of one of cycling's biggest names, Trek, the one and the same that's been around since your parent's childhood and seen in just about every cycling competition currently going on. But Electra is more focused on the cruising and relaxing side of cycling, so expect to see different machines than we may be used to from Trek.

Heck, take a good long look at the images in the gallery and the video below to really take in the styling and functionality of the Ponto. You may have noticed that the traditional bicycle framing we're used to has gone out the window. Instead, we're presented with a rather scrambler or cafe racer styling that may make pedaling rather difficult due to a very low seat. Good thing this is an e-bike and has thumb throttle! We'll get to that shortly.

Speaking of seating, you may have noticed that this machine has two visible seats. Sure, you can occupy both to just cruise around as laid back as possible, but in reality, the Ponto is built for so much more. I'm talking about bringing a friend along for the ride.

That's right; the Ponto is designed to be able to carry two grown humans. How is this possible? Well, you can see that the frame is built in such a way as to allow for this to happen, with the necessary strength where it's needed. There is a pair of footpegs for passengers too. In all, 360 lbs (163 kg) is the maximum load limit, bike included (36.3 kg / 80 lbs). But, there is a catch; the rear has no suspension system, so rides may be rougher. Or are they?

One aspect of the Ponto is the fact that it's technically a fat-tire bike. With that in mind, you and your passenger will have 4 in (10 cm) of air between the Ponto's rim and the ground, softening up your rides. Once we throw in the front fork with 80 mm (3.1 in) of travel, you should be fine no matter the cracked asphalt you ride on.

However, fat tires also have another benefit, that of the terrain they're made for. Suppose you happen to run across Electra's website. In that case, they mention something about this EV being rooted in the SoCal lifestyle, and that means a lot of sand, perfect for knobby and grippy fatties like the ones seen here. I wonder how this baby fares in the snow because that's yet another landscape where fat tires are often spotted.

Now, all the added weight of a passenger is bound to make it a whole lot more difficult to peddle. Great thing the Ponto is equipped with the goods you need to ride around, assisted by a motor's power. Because of the way the frame is crafted, nothing but a rear-hub motor makes sense, and that's just what Electra threw on.

Overall, we're looking at a 750 W motor mounted to the rear wheel and able to spit out 60 Nm (44 lb-ft) of torque. This should be more than enough to help you zip around town at speeds limited by your local laws and regulations for these vehicles. Apparently, 26 mph (42 kph) is the top speed on the Ponto Go!

However, there is something mounted in the BB (Bottom Bracket) area, a battery pack. Overall, 650 Wh of juice is what's going to be feeding that rather hungry motor. But, as famished as the motor may be, Electra still claims that this setup can offer a range upwards of 60 mi (96.5 km). Quite a bit for an e-bike built to carry two people.

The rest of this bugger is fitted with rather budget-friendly gear. After all, Electra is asking just $2,700 (€2,480 at current exchange rates) for the Ponto, and most of that's going to production processes and the electronics in place, so there had to be a tradeoff somewhere; Microshift is the manufacturer supplying the drivetrain.

Overall, a 1x8 speed drivetrain is in place, and a Microshift Mezzo derailleur moves a KMC chain on an 11-34T cassette. Again, it's not the sort of drivetrain you'll be using to bring home gold, silver, or even bronze medals, but at least you'll get a participant's award. The hydraulic brakes are sure to be a welcome component; 180x2.3 mm (7.1x0.1 in) rotors are mounted to the front and rear, ensuring you keep yourself and human cargo safe.

All that's left to do now is find one of these in your town, take it out for a spin, and take things from there. Just be warned, the top speed on this, the fact that you can carry a passenger and that your experience is going to be a laid-back one may mean you should bring along your checkbook.